It's Not Just Bethel & IHOP: How to Handle Exposure in Your Own Church

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Mar 3, 2026

Practical steps for confronting unrepentant leaders and protecting your congregation are laid out in clear, bite-sized guidance. They separate private repentance from sins that require public warning and explain when to report crimes. You'll hear about whistleblower policies, member oversight, and how Matthew 18 and 1 Timothy 5 apply in real local church situations.

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ADVICE

Require Concrete Repentance Not Performative Apologies

Do not accept mere apologies as true repentance; require restitution, remorse, and willingness to be held accountable.
Roundtree warns narcissistic abusers fake humility, so demand concrete change not just tears.

ADVICE

Report Criminal Acts Publicly And Involve Authorities

Tell the congregation about criminal acts that affect church resources or involve minors and call law enforcement when appropriate.
Joshua Lewis stresses transparency when funds are stolen or sexual abuse involves a minor to protect victims and donors.

INSIGHT

Match Exposure Scale To The Leader's Public Reach

Public exposure should usually stay within the local church context unless the leader's ministry is broadly public.
Roundtree notes modern tech complicates scope and warns exposure level should match how public the ministry is.

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We've spent a lot of time talking about what biblical accountability looks like at the national level - Bethel, Shawn Bolz, Mike Bickle, Chris Reed, or Michael Brown to name a few - examining cover-up culture that protects powerful leaders while silencing victims. But here's the question we keep getting in the comments and in our inboxes: What do I do when it's happening in my own church?

That's a harder question — and honestly, a more important one.

In this episode, Joshua Lewis, Michael Miller, and Michael Rowntree come back to ground level: your actual local church, where you know these people, where your kids go to Sunday school, where you serve. What does Matthew 18 actually look like when you're sitting across the table from an elder who won't listen? When do you escalate? When do you leave? When do you go public following 1 Timothy 5 — and is that ever right for a layperson to do?

We're walking through the biblical process step by step, giving you real categories for navigating one of the hardest situations a believer can face. This isn't about gossip, mob justice, or protecting institutions. It's about protecting people — and honoring the Word of God in the process.

0:00 – Introduction
3:10 – Local Church Exposure Questions
4:28 – Sins Requiring Public Exposure
15:37 – Handling Private Repentant Sin
26:00 – Matthew 18 Church Discipline
36:38 – Church Whistleblower Accountability
45:26 – 1 Timothy 5 Elders Discipline
52:38 – When to Go Public
54:45 – Leaving Abusive Church Leadership
1:00:23 – Dangers of Toxic Church Culture
1:01:35 – Healthy Repentance and Discipline

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